New York By capq 1524 the first European visitor Giovanni da Verrazzano Giovanni da Verrazzano 1609 Henry Hudson, sailed up the Hudson River 1624 the Dutch founded the first permanent trading post 1626 the first governor bought the island of Manhattan from the Native Americans. Period: 1701 to 1800 the main industry in New York was milling 1720 The first shipyard opened 1725 The first newspaper the New York Gazette 1732 The first theater in New York Apr 20, 1789 Washington took his presidential oath at Federal Hall. 1832 cholera struck New York 1835 Fire destroyed much of the old district of New York 1837 Harlem was connected to New York by railway 1849 cholera struck New York 1866 cholera struck New York 1883 Brooklyn Bridge opened 1888 New York City was struck by a terrible blizzard Period: 1901 to 2000 Many museums opened 1902 The Flat Iron Building was built 1911 New York Public Library opened 1931 Empire State Building was erected Period: 1932 to 1940 The Rockefeller Center was built Period: 1980 to 1990 Large numbers of Asians migrated to the city 2001 World Trade Center was destroyed in a terrorist attack